Electronic frying pan systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A digital frying pan provides temperature and/or food doneness information associated with food cooked within the pan. A thermal sensor coupled with the pan senses temperature and generates corresponding signals, and processing electronics coupled with the sensor convert the signals to data for display on a LCD. A warning buzzer or LED warns the user of completed cooking. The frying pan may be programmed to desired food types or personal temperatures or food doneness options. The invention also provides a remote sensing food doneness system for remotely viewing and then determining food temperature and/or food doneness. The remote system uses thermal imaging optics and thermal sensing techniques to remotely sense food temperature. Preferably a second optical element images the food onto a CCD to display an image of the food to a user. The system is mounted by a user who views the CCD to ensure appropriate placement in line of sight from the food. A warning is generated by the system to indicate food doneness or desired temperature.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/197,756, filed Apr. 19, 2000; to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/203,293, filed May 11, 2000; to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/212,169, filed Jun. 16, 2000; and to U.S. Provisional No. 60/260,038,filed Jan. 5, 2001, each of which is expressly incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Cooking over stove and fire has been an age-old occurrence.Assistance in cooking is desirable, such as to assure food temperatureand doneness. Cooking pans are used in cooking—but provide no assistancein monitoring food temperature or doneness. One object of the inventionis to provide an electronic frying pan to overcome the deficiencies ofthe prior art. Other objects will be apparent in the description thatfollows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In one aspect, the invention provides an electronic frying panwith a thermally conductive pan for cooking food and a handle connectedto the thermally conductive pan. The thermally conductive pan has one ormore sensors attached therewith (e.g., inside or outside) to generatesignals indicative of one or more characteristics (e.g., temperature) ofthe pan or food within the pan; the handle has electronics connected tothe sensors for providing indications to a user of the frying panregarding food cooked within the pan. Preferably, the handle electronicsmay be removed from the handle, and later replaced, so as to wash thepan without exposing the handle electronics to washing environments. Thehandle electronics preferably have a display to show desiredinformation, e.g., food temperature, to the user. Preferably, aprocessor is included with the handle electronics to process signalsfrom the sensors to provide food characteristics, e.g., doneness.Sensitive electronics are preferably included within the handleelectronics, and the handle electronics are preferably thermallyshielded from frying temperatures in the pan, so as to protectelectronic components. User inputs to the processor (i.e., via thehandle electronics) provide for selecting doneness (e.g., “well-done”)and food type (e.g., meat, poultry, eggs) options.

[0004] In one aspect, the invention includes a digital frying pan,sensor electronics and a LCD display. The sensor electronics convert ananalog sensor signal (for example, indicating pan temperature) into adigital signal for display at the LCD display of temperature in eitherFahrenheit or Centigrade. A user of the digital frying pan preferablyreads the display when facing the handle, and thus the display ispreferentially oriented for this view. The information displayedpreferably changes as pan or food temperature changes. In addition thedisplay also preferably provides an analog representation oftemperature, such as a bar graph. In one aspect, at least part of thesensor electronics are contained within removeable module, such that themodule may be removed during washing of the digital frying pan so as notto damage sensitive electronics. In another aspect, the LCD display isalso incorporated into the removeable module.

[0005] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a remote fooddoneness system. The system couples with a wall or other surface and hasa line of sight to cooking food such as within a frying pan. The systemincludes optics and one or more thermal sensing detectors; the opticsimage the cooking food to the thermal sensing detectors; and processingelectronics within the remote food doneness system process signals fromthe detectors to determine food characteristics, e.g., temperature. Inone embodiment, a processor and memory within the remote food donenesssystem stores information such as food items (e.g., eggs, chicken, beef)and corresponding food doneness and temperature settings. A userinterface permits a user of the system to select food doneness options.The system preferably includes an audible or visual indicator to warn ofprogrammed events, e.g., when food viewed by the system has reacheddesired temperatures or doneness. The system in one embodiment, forexample, may thus “view” cooking eggs and warn a user desiring the eggsthat the eggs are “over easy”.

[0006] In one aspect, an electronic frying pan system is provided. Thesystem includes a pan for cooking food and a handle connected to the panfor manipulating the pan. One or more temperature sensors connect withthe pan to generate signals indicative of one or more characteristics ofthe pan, such as temperature. Indication electronics disposed with thehandle connect with the sensors and disposed to provide at least oneindication of the characteristics to a user of the pan.

[0007] In one aspect, the indication electronics includes a liquidcrystal display to display the one or more characteristics to the user.By way of example, pan temperature is relayed to the user. Pantemperature of one aspect is calibrated to a food temperature as thefood is generally not directly adjacent to a temperature sensor.

[0008] In one aspect, the indication electronics include a processor toprocess the signals to associate food characteristics corresponding tofood cooking within the pan. Food characteristics can include fooddoneness.

[0009] In another aspect, a user interface is included with the fryingpan to provide for selecting one of several food types, such that theprocessor generates food characteristics as a function of food type.Similarly, food temperatures may be selected in another aspect.

[0010] In a preferred aspect, the indication electronics are detachableand alternatively attachable with the handle, such that the pan may bewashed without the indication electronics.

[0011] In still another aspect, the indication electronics have voicesynthesis electronics to speak at least the one indication to the user.

[0012] Preferably, the indication electronics include a memory elementfor storing food doneness versus temperature settings for one or morefood types.

[0013] In yet another aspect, an audible alarm is coupled with theindication electronics to audibly inform a user of the pan system of oneof temperature and food doneness of food within the pan.

[0014] In one aspect, the indication electronics include a calibrationmemory to couple the indication electronics with a plurality ofdifferent size pans, such that the indication electronics providecalibrated information for the different size pans.

[0015] The invention of another aspect provides a method of cooking foodin a frying pan, including the steps of: sensing temperature of thefrying pan, processing pan temperature to determine one or more of fooddoneness and food temperature, and informing a user of the pan of thefood doneness and/or food temperature.

[0016] The method can also include the steps of decoupling processingelectronics from the frying pan prior to washing the pan andalternatively coupling the processing electronics with the frying panprior to use.

[0017] The method can also include the steps of decoupling processingelectronics from the frying pan and coupling the processing electronicswith a second pan having a different size from the frying pan, andselecting calibration data within the processing electronics to providecalibrated information for the different size second pan.

[0018] In another aspect, the invention provides a method of remotelymonitoring temperature of food, including the steps of: imaging the foodonto a thermal sensor, processing signals from the thermal sensor todetermine a temperature of the food, and informing the user of thetemperature.

[0019] The method of this aspect preferably includes the step ofattaching a housing coupled with the sensor to a surface in line ofsight from the food.

[0020] In yet another aspect, the method includes the further step ofimaging the food onto a CCD to display an image of the food to the userso as to physically arrange appropriate mounting of the housing to imagethe food onto the thermal sensor.

[0021] The invention of one aspect calibrates a thermal sensor arrangedto sense temperature at the side of the pan. Since the side of the pangenerally has a different temperature than the center of the pan, wherefood cooks, the invention calibrates the temperature taken at the sideof the pan to correlate to the center of the pan. Software with theelectronics module provides smoothing of the data based on rate ofchange of temperature at the side of the pan. This provides an averagerate of change usable to compensate for temperatures in the pan center.

[0022] The invention is next described further in connection withpreferred embodiments, and it will become apparent that variousadditions, subtractions, and modifications can be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained byreference to the drawings, in which:

[0024]FIG. 1 shows one electronic frying pan constructed according tothe invention;

[0025]FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the handle and panof FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 3 shows one block diagram of circuitry suitable for use withan electronic pan of FIG. 2;

[0027]FIG. 4 shows one electronics handle of the invention; FIG. 4Ashows an end view of the handle of FIG. 4; FIG. 4B shows across-sectional side view of the handle of FIG. 4;

[0028]FIG. 5 shows one remote food doneness system constructed accordingto the invention; and

[0029]FIG. 6 schematically shows an electronic block diagram of thesystem of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030]FIG. 1 shows an electronic frying pan 10 constructed according tothe invention with (a) a thermally conductive pan 12 and (b) a handle14. One or more temperature sensors 11 coupled with pan 12 connect to anelectronics module 16 in handle 14. Electronics module 16 preferablyincludes display 18 to show a user of pan 10 characteristics associatedwith pan 12 or food (in the form of an egg) 20 within pan 12.Electronics module 16 includes a processor such as a microprocessor andpreferably includes memory to store food doneness options and userselections. A user interface 22 provides for user input to selectvarious characteristics and functions of electronics module 16. Display18 may show digital temperature 18 a, a bar graph representation 18 b oftemperature or doneness, or other information. As described below,electronics module 16 preferably detaches from pan 10 so that pan 10 iswashable without module 16 attached thereto. Teflon wires preferablyseal the remaining portions of handle 14 to prevent liquids fromentering electronics remaining after removal of module 16.

[0031] Temperature sensors 11 include, for example, a thermistor orthermocouple. Thermocouple 11 couples to electronics module 16 viaelectronic or thermal conductive path 24; path 24 is chosen as a matterof design choice as a medium to transfer data or signals from sensor 11to module 16. Preferably, stainless steel is used to provide contactbetween module 16, path 24 and sensors 11. FIG. 1 shows one temperaturethermocouple 11 coupled with conductive pan 12, though additionalsensors 11 may be placed about pan 12 as a matter of design choice. Forexample, one or more additional temperature sensors may be placed atdifferent locations 11 a; sensors at locations 1 a also connect tomodule 16 and may provide more representative temperature data for food20. Any temperature sensor 11 may be calibrated to correspond to atemperature profile experienced by food 20, even though sensor 11 is notdirectly adjacent food 20. Typical pan calibrations are for pans thatare eight, ten or twelve inches in diameter.

[0032] In operation, a user of pan 10 selects pre-programmed temperaturesettings or programs personal settings to cook food 20 in a desiredmanner. For example, such a user may select 300 degrees F. for eggs, 340degrees F. for bacon, 360 degrees F. for burgers and pork chops, 380degrees F. for pancakes, and 400-420 degrees F. for steak. Other optionsare of course available without departing from the scope of theinvention. In the preferred embodiment, display 18 displays thetemperature of pan 12 in Centigrade or Fahrenheit. Various cookinglevels are preferably selectable at handle 14. When a cooking level isselected, a microprocessor in module 16 provides a signal converted todisplay 18 that informs the user that the temperature is at his desiredchosen cooking level.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of pan 10 of FIG. 1.Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the mechanical design ofpan 10 is a matter of design choice and that other configurations may befunctionally arranged without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0034]FIG. 3 schematically illustrates circuitry 50 suitable for usewith frying pan 10 of FIG. 1. An LCD display 52 may for example be usedas display 18; an LCD controller 53 generally controls display 52 asknown in the art. Dotted line 54 indicates one practical partitioning ofcomponents of circuitry 50 that may be conveniently contained within onepackage. A thermocouple or thermistor 56 may serve in function as one ofthe sensors 11 to generate signals concerning characteristics of the panand/or food within pan 12. A voltage amplifier 57 may be used to boostsensor signals, as desired or needed. An A-D converter 59 is generallyused when sensor 56 drives an analog signal. In one embodiment, thehandle electronics module can include voice synthesis electronics 58used to capture human voice commands for pan or food characteristicsmade by a user of pan 10. Normally, however, users input instructions tocircuitry 50 via input buttons 60 (e.g., for user interface buttons 22,FIG. 1) so as to select desired food or doneness characteristics. Amicrocontroller 64 provides for overall function and commandintelligence of circuitry 50; for example microcontroller 64 adjustscooking time based on surface temperature of pan 12, FIG. 1. A crystal66 provides for timing in circuitry 50.

[0035]FIGS. 4, 4A, 4B show one handle 70 constructed according to theinvention and suitable for use an electronic frying pan 71 (shown onlypartially, for purposes of illustratinon) such as pan 10, FIG. 1. Adisplay 72 shows food or pan characteristics. Preferably the handleelectronics are in the form of a removable control module 74, as shown;a module alignment nub 75, ball shap 77, and lip 79 may be used tofacilitate removing from, and alternatively replacing module 74 within,handle 70. A battery 76, e.g., a 2450 Lithium battery, fits withinhandle 74; battery 76 may be removed from module 74 via access door 81.User interface buttons 78 a, 78 b provide for “advance” and “set” menuoptions, respectively. A hang hole 80 permits hanging of handle 70 on ahook. A warning buzzer 82 provides an audible warning of programmed fooddoneness sensed by temperature sensors coupled with module 74 viacommunications lines 84.

[0036] The invention thus provides several advantages. By way ofexample, eggs are one food difficult to cook with certainty as towhether they are well done, over easy or medium. The invention providesfor recalling temperature for desired egg doneness; and a user need notrely on stove temperature settings. The microcontroller of the preferredembodiment automatically signals the user (e.g., via buzzer 82, FIG. 4)when the desired egg doneness is reached. Since the display can includean analog representation of doneness, e.g., via a bar graph ortachagraphic display, then the user may also watch food approach thedesired doneness, so as not to be surprised. User selections at the userinterface (e.g., by pressing button 22, FIG. 1) provide for selectingdoneness options (e.g., over easy) and food types (e.g., eggs); or auser can select custom temperatures. In a further advantage, thereplaceable module (e.g., module 16, FIG. 1) may be used in an array ofpans of different size—but with a common electronics module. When themodule is coupled with a certain pan size, the user preferably sets pansize through the same user interface so as to adjust any calibrations totemperature sensors with the particular pan.

[0037]FIG. 5 shows a remote food doneness system 100 constructedaccording to the invention. System 100 is constructed and arranged toattach to surfaces 102 near to cooking food 104, such as food on stove106 and within frying pan 108. By way of example, system 100 attaches tosurface 102 via magnets 110 coupled with system 100; surfaces 102 aretypically metallic surfaces that are part of stove 106. In operation,system 100 views food 104 through a field of view 105; system 100 thenmonitors food doneness and/or temperature of food 104 to provide anindication 112 of doneness and/or temperature to a user. Typically,indication 112 is an audible sound or light made, respectively, from aspeaker or LED 114. System 100 thus provides operation similar to thedigital frying pans of FIGS. 1-4; however system 100 functions remotelyfrom food 104.

[0038]FIG. 6 shows a block schematic of system 100; those skilled in theart should appreciate that elements of system 100, as shown in FIG. 6,may be arranged in different ways, or through different components,without departing from the scope of the invention. An infrared opticallypowered element (e.g., a mirror or Germanium lens) 122 images food 104onto a thermal detector 124 (e.g., a bolometer), as shown by opticalimaging lines 125. A visible optically powered element (e.g., a quartzlens) 126 images food 104 onto a CCD array 128, as shown by opticalimaging lines 129. A PCB and processing section 130 converts signalsfrom CCD array 128 to data for LCD 130; PCB and processing section 130converts signals from thermal detector 124 to temperature dataindicating a temperature of food 104; a user may view LCD 132 to viewwhat food 104 system 100 monitors; specifically, by reviewing LCD 132 auser may position system 100 appropriately on surface 102 so as toappropriately image food 104 to thermal detector 124. A user interfaceprovides for inputting selections for temperature and food doneness tosystem 100; preferably PCB and processing section 130 includes memory tostore food doneness options and food types, similar to system describedabove in FIGS. 1-4. Once a selected temperature or food doneness isreached, for food 104, system 100 informs the user of this throughindicator 114 (e.g., a buzzer or LED). In this way, a user of system 100can monitor food doneness and temperature for a food remotely andconveniently. As those skilled in the art understand, determiningtemperature of food 104 via thermal detectors works best when areference temperature is available; thus preferably thermal detector 124includes at least two detectors, one to receive thermal energy from food104 and one to receive thermal energy from a reference temperature suchas the inside of system 100, which is generally at room temperature.Data from the two detectors 124 may then be compared (in PCB andprocessing section 130) to determine temperature of food 104. Othercalibration techniques for determining absolute temperature may also beused.

[0039] Those skilled in the art should appreciate that system 100 canutilize a single infrared CCD to provide both imaging for LCD display130 and temperature monitoring of food 104. In such an embodiment,separate lens 126 and CCD array 128 are not necessary.

[0040] The invention thus attains the objects set forth above, amongthose apparent from the preceding description. Since certain changesmay. be made in the above methods and systems without departing from thescope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understoodthat the following claims are to cover all generic and specific featuresof the invention described herein, and all statements of the scope ofthe invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fallthere between.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. An electronicfrying pan system, comprising: a pan for cooking food; a handleconnected to the pan for manipulating the pan; one or more temperaturesensors connected with the pan for generating signals indicative of oneor more characteristics of the pan; and indication electronics connectedwith the sensors and disposed with the handle for providing at least oneindication of the characteristics to a user of the pan.
 2. A pan systemof claim 1, wherein the indication electronics comprise a liquid crystaldisplay for displaying the one or more characteristics to the user.
 3. Apan system of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics comprisepan temperature.
 4. A pan system of claim 1, wherein the indicationelectronics comprise a processor for processing the signals to associatefood characteristics corresponding to food cooking within the pan.
 5. Apan system of claim 4, wherein the food characteristics comprise fooddoneness.
 6. A pan system of claim 4, wherein the indication electronicscomprise a user interface for selecting one of several food types,wherein the processor generates food characteristics as a function offood type.
 7. A pan system of claim 4, wherein the indicationelectronics comprise a user interface for selecting one of several foodtemperatures, wherein the processor generates food characteristics as afunction of food temperature.
 8. A pan system of claim 1, wherein theindication electronics are detachable and alternatively attachable withthe handle, wherein the pan may be washed without the indicationelectronics.
 9. A pan system of claim 1, wherein the indicationelectronics comprise voice synthesis electronics to speak at least theone indication to the user.
 10. A pan system of claim 1, wherein theindication electronics comprise memory for storing food doneness versustemperature settings for one or more food types.
 11. A pan system ofclaim 1, further comprising an audible alarm coupled with the indicationelectronics for audibly informing a user of the pan system of one oftemperature and food doneness of food within the pan.
 12. A pan systemof claim 1, wherein the indication electronics comprise calibrationmemory for coupling the indication electronics with a plurality ofdifferent size pans, wherein the indication electronics providecalibrated information for the different size pans.
 13. A method ofcooking food in a frying pan, comprising the steps of sensingtemperature of the frying pan, processing pan temperature to determineone or more of food doneness and food temperature, and informing a userof the pan of the food doneness and/or food temperature.
 14. A method ofclaim 13, further comprising the steps of decoupling processingelectronics from the frying pan prior to washing the pan andalternatively coupling the processing electronics with the frying panprior to use.
 15. A method of claim 13, further comprising the steps ofdecoupling processing electronics from the frying pan and coupling theprocessing electronics with a second pan having a different size fromthe frying pan, and selecting calibration data within the processingelectronics to provide calibrated information for the different sizesecond pan.
 16. A method of claim 13, wherein the step of sensingtemperature comprises sensing temperature at a side of the pan, andwherein the step of processing pan temperature comprises compensatingthe pan temperature so as to provide a pan temperature similar to acenter of the pan.
 17. A method for remotely monitoring temperature offood, comprising the steps of imaging the food onto a thermal sensor,processing signals from the thermal sensor to determine a temperature ofthe food, informing the user of the temperature.
 18. A method of claim17, further comprising the step of attaching a housing coupled with thesensor to a surface in line of sight from the food.
 19. A method ofclaim 18, further comprising selecting one or more of food type, fooddoneness and temperature at a user interface with the housing.
 20. Amethod of claim 19, wherein the step of informing the user comprisesutilizing user selections and converting temperature to a food doneness.21. A method of claim 17, further comprising imaging the food onto a CCDto display an image of the food to the user so as to physically arrangeappropriate mounting of the housing to image the food onto the thermalsensor.